Metallurgical plant

Abstract

In order to ensure that flue gases will not escape from an enclosure (1) which contains a metallurgical vessel (2) as charging boxes (10) are moved into and out of the enclosure, the charging crane (14) is disposed inside the enclosure (1) and the enclosure contains at least one lock chamber (11), which is adapted to contain a charging box (10) in a stand-by position and which adjoins a charging opening (9) that is formed in a side wall (5) of the enclosure. A top wall of the lock chamber is formed with an opening (12), which is adapted to be closed and through which a charging box can be moved between the lock chamber and the main part of the interior of the enclosure.

We claim: 
     
       1. A metallurgical plant comprising an open-topped metallurgical vessel provided with a cover adapted to close said vessel at its top,   an enclosure surrounding said vessel and comprising a top wall and side wall means defining at least one charging opening permitting a charging box to be moved through said side wall means from the outside of said enclosure to a stand-by position in said enclosure,   first shutter means for selectively opening and closing said charging opening, and   a charging crane for moving said charging box between said stand-by position and a charging position over said vessel,   wherein the improvement comprises   partition means contained in said enclosure and dividing the interior thereof into a main part containing said vessel and lock chamber means adjoining said charging opening and adapted to contain said charging box in said stand-by position,   said partition means comprises lock chamber top wall means spaced from said top wall of the enclosure and defines lock chamber top wall opening means, through which said lock chamber means communicates with said main part of said interior and which permits said charging box to be moved between said lock chamber means and said main part of said interior,   second shutter means for selectively opening and closing said lock chamber top wall opening means, and   said charging crane is disposed within said main part of said interior and is operable to move said charging box through said lock chamber top wall opening means between said stand-by and charging positions.   
     
     
       2. The improvement set forth in claim 1, wherein said side wall means defines with two of said charging openings,   said partition means define two lock chambers, each of which adjoins one of said charging openings and is adapted to contain one of said charging boxes in a stand-by position,   said chamber top wall means defines with two chamber top wall openings,   each of said lock chambers communicates through one of said chamber top wall openings with said main part of said interior,   said charging crane is operable to move a charging box between each of said lock chambers and said main part of said interior through said chamber top wall openings, and   said first and second shutter means are operable to open and close said two charging openings and said two chamber top wall openings in alternation and in succession in mutually opposite senses.   
     
     
       3. The improvement set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and second shutter means are movable generally in a predetermined direction to open and close said charging openings and said chamber top wall openings, respectively,   said two lock chambers are arranged one beside the other and closely spaced apart in said predetermined direction,   said first shutter means comprise a first shutter for opening and closing said two charging openings in alternation and   said second shutter means comprise a second shutter for opening and closing said two chamber top wall openings in alternation.